"Was it you who handled Shi Jie's case?"
The moment Qin Guan closed the door behind him, his mother-in-law cut straight to the chase, her face icy.
Shi Jie's case was the one Qin Guan had just won—a spectacular victory. At first, it had seemed like a guaranteed loss. He'd been pushed to the brink during the trial, but he hadn't given up. Steady and methodical, he'd staged a stunning comeback in the final moments, overturning the case even as the police and prosecutors thought they had it in the bag.
He'd won. The judge and the prosecution team had been left speechless. The prosecutors, in particular, had gritted their teeth in frustration—but so what? He'd won. A win was a win.
He'd planned to share this triumphant story at the dinner table tonight, to bask in his in-laws' admiration.
"Yes, Mom," Qin Guan replied, setting down his keys with a smile. What was she here for? To nitpick even after such a flawless victory? To demand more from him?
The more capable you are, the more people expect.
"Defending scum like Shi Jie—fine, you're a lawyer. If you want to climb, you can't pick your clients. I get that! But bribing witnesses? Tampering with testimony? Even setting traps to sabotage the victim?" His mother-in-law stood by the dining table, her thin fists clenched and trembling.
"Shi Jie is a murderer! A thug! A monster! When you defended him, did you ever think about the victim? That innocent woman? She was violated, and now her attacker walks free because of you! How could you do this?!"
She gasped for breath, her throat making strange, strained noises.
Qin Guan froze, watching her uneasily—he feared she might collapse. He had no idea where she'd heard these accusations, though he guessed the losing side had been spreading rumors.
Yes, he'd defended Shi Jie. Yes, Shi Jie was a scumbag.
Yes, Shi Jie had assaulted that woman.
Yes, Qin Guan had bribed witnesses and altered testimony.
To discredit the victim's statement, he'd laid a simple trap—that foolish woman, all tears and no brains, had fallen for it instantly.
So what?
Wasn't this why he'd entered this profession? To win?
When he'd studied law as they'd urged, they'd said, "Work hard, become a successful lawyer, and you'll rise above the rest!"
They'd encouraged him themselves! Now they suddenly had morals?
Shi Jie had paid a hefty fee, and this victory—leaving the prosecution defenseless and the victim silenced—had already put Qin Guan ahead of his peers.
He'd gained money and fame. What was wrong with that?
He didn't understand her anger. Her outrage only fueled his own resentment. Hadn't his in-laws bragged about his past wins? Dragged him to family events to show him off? Married their daughter to him because of his ambition and earning power?
Hypocrites. Now they wanted to play saints?
"Qin Guan, tell me it's not true. Look me in the eyes and tell me!" His mother-in-law's voice cracked, her nose and eyes reddening.
He met her gaze without flinching. He'd done it all, but he felt no guilt.
"It's the job, Mom," he said calmly, indifferent to whether she understood. "If I lose too many cases, I'll never advance. I have to win—by any means. This case was a long shot. Sure, the methods were…unorthodox, but the result is what matters. My client won. I won. That's a double victory. As for the victim? She was too stupid to take the settlement. No money, no sense—her fault, not mine."
His words struck her like a physical blow. She staggered back, gripping the table for support.
When she finally steadied herself, she turned to him with tearful, accusing eyes.
"Qin Guan, we raised you, paid for your education—not to turn you into this!"
He hated that line more than anything.
"We raised you, paid for your education."
Yes, it was true. But did she have to throw it in his face?
Hadn't he worked hard? Strived harder than anyone to escape his roots?
His college degree, his success—all earned through his own effort!
"Qin Guan, I'm begging you—stop this. Our Xu family has always valued kindness. Heaven watches what we do!" She shook her head despairingly. "You have Ruyi now. She's carrying your child. For their sake, do better…"
Qin Guan stayed silent.
"Our Xu family." The words pierced him. After twenty years of grinding, was he still just an appendage to the Xus?
He wasn't a Xu! He wasn't some live-in son-in-law!
Sensing his simmering rage, his mother-in-law sighed bitterly and turned to leave. "Don't tell Ruyi about this," she murmured. "She's under enough stress…"
Alone, Qin Guan's fury boiled over. Pacing the room, he grabbed a crowbar from the balcony and smashed the laundry counter until sweat dripped and his arms burned.
The counter cracked. Later, he secretly hired someone to repair it. The crowbar's curved end was bent into an "A" shape.
He made up an excuse for Xu Ruyi and Auntie Feng. Neither suspected a thing.
The crowbar was eventually stored in Auntie Feng's toolbox.
But why was it hidden in the back of her drawer now? What had she used it for?
Qin Guan scanned the house. Then it hit him—the doors and windows.
They'd been repaired days ago after being smashed in the middle of the night.
He remembered the date—the night he'd returned from the lakeside villa, terrified he'd killed Qi Min. The night "Zeng Demei" had sent extortion letters. He'd waited in the park with 300,000 yuan, only for Auntie Feng to call: "The windows are broken!"
Now, holding the crowbar, he understood.
The windows hadn't been smashed by an outsider.
Auntie Feng did it.